'This great panorama of creation dates back to time immemorial.
No-one lives who saw its beginning. No-one will live to see its end: Gye Nyame, Except God.'
gyenyame (pronounced jin-yami) is the ancient adinkra of the all-pervading power of God which lies deep within the cultural traditions of vocalist Joyce-Efia’s native Ghana. Inspired by the faith, harmony and unity amongst the diverse peoples of her origin, she and Anthony Harmer, guitarist and student of Iranian classical music, began to develop this project in Kumasi in 2005, their aim to bring the words of the great spiritual writings to world-inspired music.
Together with vocalist Amelia Samuel, multi-percussionist Mehdi Rezvan and violinist Gregory Maytan, gyenyame represents artists whose origins encompass each corner of the world, and whose paths all led to London. Drawing on this range of musical backgrounds and influences, their mission is simple: to translate the depth and emotion of spirituality into a world-embracing sound, and make the mystical accessible and real to our everyday lives.
On their debut album ‘The Mystery’, gyenyame explore both the meditative and dynamic aspects of some of the most moving writings of the world’s great spiritual traditions, against a soundscape hewn from santour, strings, guitar and North African and Iranian percussion. Into this tapestry of style and culture gyenyame weave the words of the Bahá’í Writings, the Buddhist Dhammapada, Sufism and the jewel of Hindu spirituality, the Bhagavad-Gita, with rich vocals forged from contemporary Western and Eastern influences.
gyenyame have performed at venues and multi-faith events all over the UK and internationally. Visit gyenyame at www.myspace.com/gye1 to check out their latest performances, and join us in our search for a more chilled-out existence. Peace.
|
|
Contact Artist
Add to Profile
Add to station